Meg explains in detail what constitutes the best baguette. A hunk of bread will never taste the same.

We're joined by Barbara Austen, former pastry chef, for more details on texture, construction, flavours, ingredients. I scribble madly notes. If only I could read my hand-writing.

Meg shows us the difference between a plain baguette and a baguette traditional (the prize winner now adorns the President's table). The price difference between la creme de la creme and l'ordinaire is a mere 15 centimes. The French government decides these things tu sait.

On to the next course - charcuterie and another prize winner for their boudin noir/blood sausage (which we do not sample Dieu merci!).

Red meat isn't on my menu these days but you have to be flexible when traveling.

Meg and Barbara set up a mini picnic dans la rue for tasting. That baguette came in handy.

Chevre/goat cheese is my favorite. These are quite aged. We taste frais/fresh and unpasturized chevre.

The cheese seller is a beau mec/cute guy...miam

On to the park nearby to sample and discuss fromage at length. I must admit I buy French cheese at the super marche, never a fromagerie - shame on me. That evening I am brave and buy chevre frais with figue inside from a fromagerie.

You can tell from his website this is going to be an elegant experience. Chef Gaudard came out while we invaded his shop. He chastised one of us not to touch anything (and correctly so). *Jamais/never help yourself in a Paris shop to the merchandise, especially in a patisserie. l'interdit!I did not have the nerve to take a photo.

Les patisseries were lush. Meg picked 3 and I bought another 3. Can you ever have too much dessert?

Meg, always well-equipped, divies up in the street, the 1st taste - an Alsacian mini kugel - very light and delicate - the outer crust crunchie and caramelized.

There are several elevators at the Abbesses metro station. Having taken the stairs once, I have warned many tourists to avoid them. The metro platform is 118 feet below street level. Of course, taking the stairs takes away some of the guilt from eating all of the goodies along Rue des Abbesses.

Great post Carol. You took me back to a favorite neighborhood of mine. I am going to re-post it on my Facebook page chez French Girl if that is all right with you. I think my readers will enjoy it too! Continue to have fun and visit cute fromagers and boulangers in Paris! ;-) Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

I hate that people kill animals, and yet I'm such a hypocrite. I love meat! The meat with the bread baked around it looks incredible. Oh my. But I think I could be persuaded quite easily to forgo the meat for any of the deserts in the pictures. It's a good thing we can't afford to go to Paris, because I'd end up too fat to fly home.

Quoi? Chérie, cheese is always better at the fromagerie. The supermarket stuff stinks but not quite enough, if you get my drift. That baguette is calling to me. I need to get there soon. Our local baguette isn't as good as this and I'm missing poifection!

Oh what a wonderful experience. I've bookmarked this for my next trip next year. I did a bakery tour on my last trip, and it was fabulous to get an idea of behind the scenes action. It's great how many fantastic activities there are in Paris.

ParisBreakfast Letters

♥carol gillott♥

l'Ile Saint Louis, Paris, Ile de France, France

Hi I'm Carol Gillott,
My Mom taught me watercolors at 5. I'm still at it on l'Ile Saint-Louis In Paris. Subscribe to my watercolor Paris letters and maps on Etsy and enjoy a Parisian souvenir in your mailbox every month. Savor with a hot chocolate and croissant.
I paint Paris dreams.